Asthma - feeling lost

[Anonymous]

My almost 4 year old daughter has a history of reactive airways when she gets colds or viruses in the winter, and we’ve done short courses of albuterol and Flovent in the past. This year she hadn’t needed anything at all until 4 weeks ago when she got some respiratory virus (negative for Covid, flu, strep) and she just still isn’t recovered, despite us doing 2 3-day courses of prednisone, Flovent inhaler, and albuterol every day to manage the cough. It’s been 4 weeks now and it’s really stressing me out that she’s just not getting better. Main symptom is cough and today her breathing was faster than normal although she could still play quietly. She’s still too young to be officially diagnosed, but is this what asthma is like? Anyone have advice? No one in my family or friend group has asthma so I am at a loss. I have taken her to the ped twice and am thinking about going to urgent care tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry you’re going through this. My 8 yo has asthma that is exacerbated by illness as well, and yes, it can be like this sometimes. It’s cold and flu season, but four weeks is a long time, so I would probably get in touch with her care team about reviewing her asthma plan. If your child has allergies, it might be helpful to see an allergist, and they can help you manage asthma as well. Best wishes, and I hope your DD feels better soon!

[Anonymous]

DS and I both have this reactive type of asthma. It is only triggered by certain colds. We've both found that we need a longer course of prednisone to fully kick it.

[Anonymous]

That is really scary. My DD has the same asthma that is triggered by viruses also. I agree with PP about allergies—our pcp had us see an allergist at that age and it was helpful. Make sure you’re keeping dust level down (wash sheets every week in hot water, etc).

I’m not a dr. but usually one of these would help: chicken soup, rest, light exercise, fresh air, staying away from others, ginger tea, honey lemon tea, honey, humidifier, shower, cough medicine, vitamin C.

[Anonymous]

My advice is to start seeing a pediatric pulmonologist to help you manage these episodes. Also, they’ll see you in scenarios like this when the cough isn’t getting better. Highly recommend Dr Samuel Rosenberg

[Anonymous]

Agreed with the poster above who said get her to a pediatric pulmonologist. Ours changed the whole game. He was put on a preventative medicine during cold and flu months and had a different action plan for when he was sick and had flare ups.

[Anonymous]

My twins started getting asthma at that age. Flovent did not work for them. They are on Symbicort. Daily two puffs. And albuterol when needed until cough subsides. I did take them to a pediatric pulmonologist too. Get a humidifier and air purifier for bedroom too. And steam showers.

[Anonymous]

PP. also check for allergies especially environmental. They may not do this until age 6 but recommend it. And get allergy proof mattress covers and pillow covers. And only one lovey in bed which should be washed regularly.

[Anonymous]

My four year old is the same. We took her to an asthma specialist and a pediatric pulmonologist. The advice was to keep her on Flovent twice a day from September through the end of cold & flu season. In previous years, we would wean off it, or go down to once a day if she was well for a significant period. This year has been our first winter without prednisone. Our doc was emphatic that one puff twice a day was better than 2 puffs once a day for the well plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My four year old is the same. We took her to an asthma specialist and a pediatric pulmonologist. The advice was to keep her on Flovent twice a day from September through the end of cold & flu season. In previous years, we would wean off it, or go down to once a day if she was well for a significant period. This year has been our first winter without prednisone. Our doc was emphatic that one puff twice a day was better than 2 puffs once a day for the well plan.

+1 to this whole post. My DD was the same at around 3-4. We were seeing both the pediatrician and a pediatric allergist (she also has food allergies) for her asthma, but we really didn’t see a difference in getting better control of it until we started seeing a pediatric pulmonologist. Her regime has been really similar to the PP above. She was also only Singulair for a bit in addition to all that, but no longer is. She’s now 9 and hasn’t had a bad exacerbation in a long time with this Flovent regime from her pulmonologist.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you to everyone who has weighed in, this has made me feel a lot less alone. Pediatric pulmonologist seems like the next step for me to feel a little more in control of this situation, and maybe an allergist too. If anyone has one they like and recommend, I'd love a recommendation. We're in Bethesda but I'll travel anywhere in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS and I both have this reactive type of asthma. It is only triggered by certain colds. We've both found that we need a longer course of prednisone to fully kick it.

This is useful for me. Thank you for sharing this.

[Anonymous]

Flovent has been discontinued in January, some pharmacies still have some in stock but the price is around $300 if your insurance no longer covers it since it’s been discontinued, and they may not cover the generic version neither, we had to spend sometime getting alternatives, and we were lucky to get it before our Flovent inhaler ran out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS and I both have this reactive type of asthma. It is only triggered by certain colds. We've both found that we need a longer course of prednisone to fully kick it.

This is useful for me. Thank you for sharing this.

You're welcome. I usually need a 10 day course and DS a 7 day course.